Metropolitan Dermatology is not your average dermatology office. With over 40 providers servicing 19 locations across New Jersey and one in Staten Island, patients can expect to get appointments almost immediately, and receive top quality dermatological care for a multitude of medical and cosmetic procedures. The group was founded by Dr. Alexander Doctoroff, affiliate of the world-renowned Columbia University and New York Presbyterian Hospital.
A large portion of Metropolitan Dermatology’s practice is devoted to skin cancer treatment and prevention. The group’s providers use dermoscopy for skin cancer detection during routine skin exams. Detecting melanomas and other skin cancers among multiple pink and brown spots on the skin is one of Dr. Doctoroff’s specialties and the group’s raison d’etre. Among skin cancer treatment options within the practice are Mohs micrographic surgery, excision, and radiotherapy for patients who want to avoid surgery.
Sometimes people who spend a lot of time in the sun develop actinic keratoses, which are pre-cancerous scaly red spots on the skin. Metropolitan Dermatology offers several options to treat them to avoid malignant transformation. Freezing, various creams, and chemical peels are just a few of the methods used. Another comprehensive newer treatment is photodynamic therapy (PDT). With PDT, a medication is applied to the skin, followed by exposure to a special light. This method allows for large areas of skin to be cleared as actinic keratoses are destroyed.
While some people may be genetically predisposed to certain types of skin cancer like melanoma, prevention is still key. Dr. Doctoroff encourages people to always wear protective clothing such as wide-brimmed hats when venturing out in the sun. “The best protection from the damaging effects of the sun is simply covering up,” he said. But he cautions that it’s not unusual for people to develop melanoma on parts of their body that have never been exposed to sunlight. It is imperative for people to get regular body scans—at least once a year—regardless of how much time they spend in the sun. If an individual notices a spot on their body that looks suspicious, they should be checked immediately. He also advises applying mineral sunscreens that contain either zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to areas of the skin exposed to the sun. Sunscreen should be reapplied at least every one to two hours, depending on how long people expect to be in the sun.
The sun’s damaging effects also extend to wrinkles, and while they may not be life-threatening, there are ways to prevent some of them. Adequate sun protection and limited exposure is the number one way to limit those pesky signs of aging, and those aforementioned wide-brimmed hats might be one of the greatest assets in the fight against wrinkles. Topical treatments like tretinoin, which require a prescription, have also been proven in many studies to effectively treat mild wrinkles and prevent others from forming.
For people who find themselves constantly battling chronic skin rashes, Metropolitan Dermatology offers state-of-the-art allergy patch testing. Identifying the cause of rashes may help to finally resolve many skin conditions, including eczema or dermatitis. The group also has expertise in treating acne, rosacea, warts, molluscum, seborrheic dermatitis, hair loss and other common and rare skin conditions. “We conduct monthly Grand Rounds for all our providers, where difficult and unusual cases are discussed and strategized,” said Dr. Doctoroff. “Our patients with rare conditions are treated using the unsurpassed combined brainpower and experience of our well-rounded doctors, physician assistants and nurse practitioners.”
Metropolitan Dermatology also offers a full range of cosmetic procedures, including Botox, chemical peels, fillers and threads. For the latest in fat reduction, Metropolitan Dermatology offers the popular and effective CoolSculpting Elite, an excellent noninvasive and virtually painless option for people of all ages looking to get rid of localized areas of fat in the body; it is available in the Clark and Staten Island locations.
Metropolitan Dermatology also offers a free skin care evaluation with Skin Type Solutions, an innovative and technologically advanced approach to skin care. Patients are asked a series of questions about their skin and based on those answers, they receive a personalized skin care regimen, with recommendations for different products that have been proven in research studies to be most effective for their skin type. The consultation can be scheduled at the Belleville, Clark, Kearny, West New York and South Plainfield offices.
The providers at Metropolitan Dermatology use newer advanced medications called biologics to treat skin conditions such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, eczema and vitiligo. Metropolitan Dermatology providers pride themselves on treating these conditions with this new class of drugs, which often have minimal side effects and far more effective results. “So many lives have been changed for the better because of this new class of drugs,” Dr. Doctoroff explained. In fact, Metropolitan Dermatology is even involved in pharmaceutical research and clinical studies for psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.
Originally from Ukraine, Dr. Alex Doctoroff resides in Livingston with his wife and six children, who attend JKHA and Ma’ayanot. The family are members of the Synagogue of the Suburban Torah Center. Dr. Doctoroff and his family are also proud supporters of the Hebron Fund, Im Tirtzu and Friends of the IDF.
To schedule an appointment at Metropolitan Dermatology, visit https://metropolitanderm.com or call 877-458-9070.
